All news (850)
«Überwinden, was uns teilt - pflegen, was uns verbindet» (de)
14.11.2014
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Press release
EDA
Ypres, 14. November 2014 - Speech by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, held as part of the «1914-2014» competition launched for all post-compulsory school classes.
Thousand winter tents en route for Iraq
10.11.2014
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland has dispatched a further relief aid to northern Iraq. One thousand tents, as well as blankets and other goods are being transported by lorry to the city of Erbil in northern Iraq and will arrive between 11 and 24 November 2014. The aid materials have a value of CHF 1 million and are intended to help people survive the winter.
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, meets the Maltese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr George W. Vella
04.11.2014
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Press release
EDA
Bern, 04.11.2014 - The President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) met the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta on Tuesday for an official working visit at the Watteville House in Bern. The meeting was an opportunity to take stock of various international and multilateral issues and of the development of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Malta. A memorandum of understanding was signed.
A member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit wins an award
03.11.2014
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Article
DEZA
Johanna Estermann, a member of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit since 2010, has won this year’s Swiss Humanitarian Award, which is given each year to a deserving student by the Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH).
Swiss Rescue is equipped for any emergency
31.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
Between 28 and 31 October 2014 around 110 members of Swiss Rescue and twelve of their dogs were put through their paces by an international assessment team near Geneva. Swiss Rescue proved itself to be equipped for any emergency, requalifying as one of the world's most professional search and rescue teams in the eyes of the UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
Ebola, Syria and Iraq crises: the Federal Council grants an additional CHF 40 million
29.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
The Federal Council wishes to strengthen Switzerland's support for Ebola victims and crisis-hit populations in Syria and Iraq. This Wednesday it decided to grant an additional CHF 40 million, which will be used equally in order to tackle these humanitarian crises. Part of this contribution will be financed by the FDFA, via the SDC. For the remaining CHF 17.5 million, the Federal Council is seeking approval from Parliament for additional funds.
Conference on the Syrian refugee situation: President Burkhalter highlights urgent need for aid
28.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
At the conference on the Syrian refugee situation, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Didier Burkhalter, expressed recognition to Syria's neighbouring countries for having taken in around three million people affected by the conflict. He said that Switzerland was prepared to support measures designed to improve the situation of the refugees and that in November Swiss Humanitarian Aid would be sending more cold weather tents to northern Iraq.
Switzerland supports free elections in Tunisia
23.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
Switzerland is committed to ensuring the success of the upcoming elections in Tunisia. Switzerland is a major stakeholder with a wide variety of programmes in Tunisia and is providing significant assistance to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which is supporting the elections on behalf of the international community. In addition, Switzerland is promoting dialogue between the different parties and is sending election observers.
Insects, key actors of food security
16.10.2014
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Article
DEZA
The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), based in Kenya, supplies products and technologies that contribute to food and nutrition security to farmers and consumers in Africa. The SDC has supported the centre financially for almost 20 years. Interview with the ICIPE’s director-general, Segenet Kelemu, on the occasion of World Food Day.
Switzerland shows Colombian kids the potential of sport
14.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
From 16 to 25 October 2014, 20 Colombian girls and boys have been invited by Switzerland to get to know around a dozen sports that are well loved in this country – including ice hockey, tennis and football, as well as Swiss wrestling, climbing and gymnastics. The aim of the visit is to show young people from conflict-ridden regions alternative prospects to a life of crime and violence. The visit is organised by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in cooperation with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Office of Sport (FOSPO) and a variety of sports-related organisations.
SDC project wins prize for innovative approach
08.10.2014
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Press release
EDA
The “mini seed packs” initiative, which is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), was awarded a prize by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in Paris yesterday evening. The initiative distributes seeds in small packets, making them affordable to small farmers in Bangladesh. The DAC, the central forum for development policy discussions between OECD member countries, honoured the initiative for its ability to reach large numbers of people, with over 400,000 seed packets sold in the first year alone.
Animals: a key factor in development cooperation and the fight against poverty
03.10.2014
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Article
DEZA
Five SDC projects concerning animals
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), around 752 million poor people keep livestock. They offer protection against food insecurity, are an important source of income and help rural populations in particular to better withstand global risks such as climate change, natural disasters and wars. Animals are therefore one of the key factors in development cooperation and in the fight against poverty. We present five SDC-supported projects that benefit animals as well as people.